Whitewater Rendezvous by Kim Baldwin: Audiobook Review

Whitewater Rendezvous by Kim Baldwin is a wonderful romance set in the most gorgeous place. It is the story of a group of women (the Broads In Broadcasting) who get together for a yearly vacation somewhere interesting. This year they decide to go on a kayak adventure in Alaska. Megan is a high powered VP at a TV news station and while she does play some sports, kayaking is not really something she is familiar with. But the Broads In Broadcasting won’t take no for an answer and get her drunk in an effort to cajole her into coming with them. It works and she signs up.

Chaz is one of the two guides who will be leading the women on the trip through the wilderness. She is butch, gorgeous, brilliant and an all-round catch who has women falling over themselves to get her attention. But she is also a little shy and sweet. Chaz is determined not to sleep with any of the women on the trip in fear of breaching her moral code, but when she sees Megan she can’t help the attraction she feels and is confused by the hatred that Megan seems to be throwing her way.

Megan has read up on Alaska, packed everything that the tour company suggested and thinks she is prepared for any eventuality until she meets Chaz. Chaz is the spitting image of Megan’s ex and Megan is convinced that Chaz is the same coldhearted bitch as her ex. So she avoids the woman at all costs, which isn’t easy to do when you are stuck in close quarters in the middle of nowhere. Tensions mount as attraction sparks between them and both women fight the feelings that blossom.

Add a cast of memorable, utterly fun characters, great writing, a bear, mosquitoes and you have a must-listen romance. I adored this book.

The Narration

Hollis Elizabeth managed to inject the right amount of levity into some of the situations that had me chuckling out loud. She kept the voices unique and the pacing good. I was a happy little listener.

The Pros

Baldwin managed to write some serious attraction in this one. I loved the chemistry between the women. Also her descriptions of the wilderness were amazing. I wanted to be there right along with the group as they kayaked down the river.

The Cons

I was hoping for a little more action, this being a Baldwin and all.

The Conclusion

This is such a sweet romance. You absolutely must add it to your audiobook collection. The attraction is hot, the descriptions are gorgeous and the characters are memorable.

Sign me up for the next vacation with the Broads In Broadcasting.

Excerpt from Whitewater Rendezvous by Kim Baldwin

Chaz didn’t like the tone of Sally’s voice. She reached over and plucked Megan’s form from the other guide’s hand. “How bad is it?” she asked, even as she began reading.

“No previous experience at all either, except for two-and-a-half disastrous days at summer camp when she was seven.”

“She actually wrote that down?”

Sally shrugged. “Seemed kind of odd to me, too. But at least she claims to be a fast learner, and physically active-golf, tennis, racquetball. Might not be too bad.”

“I hope you’re right.” Chaz scanned the form, trying to picture the woman who’d filled it out. The handwriting at the top of the sheet-name, address, phone, and so forth – was clearly legible, the backward slant indicating that Megan was probably a lefty. But the questions beneath had been answered in an almost childish scrawl that canted in the opposite direction, and each answer was given in painstaking detail, almost to the point of absurdity.

What intrigued her most were the words Megan had written after the disclaimer at the bottom of the registration form. All adventure trips required them; it was standard practice among the industry, and Chaz had never had a client comment on it before.

I acknowledge that the trip I am undertaking involves hazardous activities in a remote area, with a risk of illness, injury or death. I also acknowledge that medical services and facilities may not be immediately available during the majority of the trip. In order to participate, I am willing to accept the risks and responsibility for any and all risks of illness, injury, or death due to the negligence (but not the reckless, willful, or fraudulent conduct) of Orion Outfitters and its employees.

I verify this statement by placing my initials here.

Megan had initialed it all right, with a barely legible MGM that made Chaz briefly wonder whether the woman’s parents had been fans of the movie studio. And just beneath she had scribbled, Covering your butts, I see. Sure does inspire faith in your guides.

“Did you see what she wrote after the disclaimer?” Chaz asked. What a bitch!

“Yeah,” Sally responded, a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. “I asked Justine about it, actually, once we’d kind of gotten to know one another through a couple of phone calls.”

“And?”

“Megan was apparently somewhat reluctant to join the trip, so her friends got her shnockered.”

Bits and Bobs

Kim Baldwin Online

Note: I received a free review copy of Whitewater Rendezvous by Kim Baldwin. No money was exchanged for this review. I will always review books as honestly as possible and on occasion I refuse to review books.

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